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In AG race, Healey calls Tolman 'a shadow lobbyist'

The Lowell Sun

Posted:
05/20/2014 01:56:33 PM EDT

State House News Service

BOSTON -- Two of the candidates running for attorney general, both Democrats, exchanged barbs over the state's lobbying laws on Tuesday, with former prosecutor Maura Healey referring to former state lawmaker Warren Tolman as a "shadow lobbyist."

The State House News Service reported on Monday that SEIU 1199 paid $950,000 over nine years to a company Tolman owns, sometimes describing the work as lobbying in filings with the U.S. Department of Labor. The union and Tolman's campaign say the filings are incorrect, since Tolman worked only as a strategic adviser, and they are working to correct the filings.

Healey, a fellow Democrat vying for the nomination, issued a statement slamming Tolman, an attorney and former candidate for governor. "The law clearly says anyone lobbying, strategizing, or even researching needs to register. My opponent hasn't done so," she said. "There's no shame in being a lobbyist, but you can't be a shadow lobbyist under our laws. People are looking for an attorney general who is up front, transparent and plays by the rules. I always have and I always will."

Chris Joyce, Tolman's campaign manager, fired back in his own statement. "Maura Healey is wrong on the law and the facts -- but she knows that -- and that should give pause to anyone considering her for Attorney General," he said. "Warren is going to continue to run a campaign focused on the fights he has led in the past -- against Big Tobacco and big polluters -- and the fights he will wage as attorney general -- against the (National Rifle Association) and other special interests.